The United States military has officially confirmed the deployment of a small US military team in Nigeria, amid growing security concerns across the country. This marks the first public acknowledgment of American troops on Nigerian soil following US airstrikes carried out in December.
Speaking to Reuters, AFRICOM Commander Dagvin Anderson said the deployment was based on a bilateral agreement between Washington and Abuja to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation. While details of the mission remain undisclosed, Anderson noted that the team provides “unique US capabilities” to support Nigeria’s security efforts.
The confirmation comes weeks after US-authorised airstrikes targeted alleged Islamic State camps in North-east Nigeria. Although described as successful, reports later surfaced of unexploded ordnance found in civilian areas across Kwara, Niger, and Sokoto states.
Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, also confirmed the presence of US troops, without revealing operational specifics. The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims that insecurity targets any particular religious group, stressing that terrorism affects all citizens.
As Nigeria battles Boko Haram and ISWAP expansion into multiple regions, the US deployment signals deeper military cooperation at a critical time.
#USMilitary #NigeriaSecurity #CounterTerrorism #AFRICOM #BreakingNews #NigeriaInsecurity #GlobalAffairs
